BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — After sparking a controversy followed by several years of anxious waiting, a request to mine phosphate in Bradford County has been withdrawn.
This follows last year’s withdrawal from a lawsuit in Union County. HPS Enterprises II had sued Union County for depriving the company of its land use rights by enacting a moratorium on mining applications and strengthening its land development regulations.
Bradford County failed to enact a moratorium before an application was submitted here in 2016 to mine thousands of acres near the New River. In the interim, mining opponents here and downstream have appealed to the commission to reject the plan based on potential damage to the environment, human health and ecology-based jobs.
There were also many questions about the progress of a consultant’s study of the master mining plan, the results of which were never returned so a hearing on the plan could proceed. 9A hydrologist’s report for the study found insufficient information to determine the long-term impact on groundwater resources after mining.0
Commissioners were told to keep quiet because of their quasi-judicial role in deciding the outcome of the mining application. Even county management was found to be obstructive. Graham resident Carol Mosely, who worked countless hours on documenting perceived irregularities in the process has even called out dishonesty of the former county management and legal office.
Mosley and other activists attended the Jan. 19 commission meeting to hear an update on the mining application from new County Manager Scott Kornegay.
Remembering the many commission meetings she walked away from emptied handed and the times she found that information she was provided wasn’t true, Moseley thanked the board and Commissioner Danny Riddick in particular for tasking the new county manager with providing an update on the status of the application.
“I felt like I had no allies on the commission in my quest for reality checks. But the last time I asked I was heard,” she said. She thanked Kornegay as well for taking the time to meet with her and review her documents. “I left that meeting feeling like we now have a county manager who wants things to be handled properly.”
After receiving direction from the board, Kornegay, through Zoning Director Randy Andrews, contacted HPS about the status of the application. Attorney Jim Taylor replied:
“On behalf of HPS, this letter is to confirm that HPS wishes to withdraw the above-referenced Application without the County taking any formal action on it. HPS therefore respectfully requests that the Board of County Commissioners consider the Application withdrawn, effective immediately.”
There was applause and even a little dancing after Kornegay read the letter. But there were also kind and appreciative words for Mosley, her passionate public speaking, her persistence and for caring about the county.
“I really appreciate your patience, your due diligence and your persistence, and not giving up to get an answer, not only for yourself, but for all of us,” Commissioner Carolyn Spooner said.
Mosley said she would be very glad if she can box up her mine-related documents and never need to look at them again. She said she looks forward to moving on to other important tasks and finding new ways to service Bradford County.
